Apple Creates Lock Screen Bypass Fix, but It’s Not Public Yet

A couple days back, we saw Apple release iOS 6.1.2, taking care of the buggy support for Microsoft Exchange servers that had popped up recently. While that was great to see arrive, we were left wondering what happened to the expected fix for the lock screen bypass hack that had been uncovered last week. We were hoping to see another quick release, but now it’s looking like we might have to wait a little while before that fix goes public, as it’s just been implemented in the new iOS 6.1.3 beta.

Apple released iOS 6.1.3 beta 2 to developers today (after the recent release renumbering, having skipped 6.1.3 beta 1) and it indeed includes this fix for the lock screen issue. While there’s no certainty, its arrival in this manner means that we’ll likely see it continue to be a beta-only exclusive through the next few cycles until Apple gets around to bringing iOS 6.1.3 public.

That’s not the end of the world, since the hack is a little tricky to pull off, and while it can give an attacker access to your contacts and photos, it’s not quite a full-on way to unlock the phone to regular functionality. For now, just keep an eye on your phone if you’re feeling a bit paranoid.

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bitsRead more about Stephen Schenck!